Effects of “Killer Heroin” Spreading

By now it is no secret that heroin abuse, and therefore heroin-related fatalities, have been climbing throughout the country. Although the areas that have thus far been hit the hardest are primarily in the northeast, the trends are spreading across the United States.

The national spotlight to the rising heroin epidemic became focused on the problem more heavily after a series events that included the State of the State Address by the Vermont Governor, a special committee appointed in Massachusetts and the tragic death of beloved actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. Also gaining attention is another batch of so-called “killer heroin,” which has been blamed for nearly 100 deaths in the northeast just in the last several weeks.

As if heroin addiction weren’t already deadly enough, this recent outbreak includes heroin mixed with fentany, which is an incredibly potent opioid that is approximately 100 times stronger than morphine. Users are unknowingly injecting themselves with this mixture and are overdosing. The last time there was a major problem like this was in 2006 when hundreds of deaths were tied to fentanyl-laced heroin back then as well.

The truth is, that heroin is deadly, and users are taking a gamble each and every time they use. Heroin is a powerfully addictive opioid that shuts down organ function, in addition to its analgesic effects. Most experts attribute the resurgence in heroin use to the number of people who had become addicted to prescrption painkillers and then continued seeking a stronger and cheaper alternative.